A
15 vears of service to numismatics
NI
BULLETIN
V o I ii ni e 14 N n ni b e r 2 Price • • • • One Dollar
ioumoio '•*«
\
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
Hitler Election Tokens - The Struggle to Power,
by Darrel J. Doll 40
REUTERC-ELD: an adjunct to notgeld, by W. A. Haskell 44
DEPARTMENTS
Book Reviews 58
Contents of the NI Reference Collection 43
From the Mailbox 37
Member Notice Page 64
New Issues 52
INSIDE N.I.
Donations Report 35
Editor's Comer 36
Librarian's Report 36
Membership Chairman's Report 35
1980 Dues 35
OTHER ITEMS
Correction 39
Justin II & Sophia 565-578 A.D., by I. C. G. Campbell 54
New Variety of Sudanese Minor Coins, by Dannie J. Williams 57
Note on the Proposed UNESCO Ban, by I. C. G. Car,rpbell 51
Numismatic Publications in India and Sir Lanka,
by David G. Briggs 53
Paper Money of the Imperial Pahlavi Dynasty of Iran,
by John G. Humphris 47
The Annual Bulletins of the Turkish Numismatic Society,
by I. C. G. Campbell 55
Wanted, Urgently! 43
- -----
Copyrighted by Nunii»mat ics I n t er nal ion al,PO.Box 30013 . Dal I as .Tex as , |!SA
FEBRUARY 1980
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
CARL YOUNG
Chairman & Past-President
CHARLES MUCHMORE, JR.
President
WALTER LEONARD
Secretary
DON DOUGLAS
Vice-President
ELMORE B. SCOTT
Treasurer & Past-President
C. C. ANDREWS
At-Large Director
WILLIAM C. BRADY
At-Large Director
PHILIP L. LAWRENCE
At-Large Director
WILLIAM E. BENSON KARY T. EDWARDS
MARVIN L. FRALEY JACK E. LEWIS
ROSS SCHRAEDER JOHN E. VANDIGRIFF
Past-Presidents
APPOINTED STAFF
Curator, NI REFERENCE COLLECTION
Philip L. Lawrence
Editor, NI BULLETIN
Marvin L. Fraley
2813 - 57th St.
Lubbock, TX 79413
Index Compiler, NI BULLETIN
Sydney W. Beaney
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Librarian, NI LIBRARY
Granvyl G. Hulse, Jr.
30 Pleasant St.
Colebrook, N.H. 03576
Mail Bid Sales
Carl Young
P. 0. Box 1836
Dallas, TX 75221
Membership Chairman
Ross Schraeder
NI Publications Chairman
John E. Vandigriff
Photographer, NI BULLETIN
Colin Tuttle
6001 N. Brookline, Apt. 513
Oklahoma City, Okla. 73112
Program Chairman
Don Douglas
Publicity Chairman
Charles Muchmore, Jr.
Correspondence should be directed to those persons and addresses above
for departments indicated. All other correspondence should be mailed
direct to NUMISMATICS INTERNATIONAL, P. 0. BOX 30013, DALLAS, TX 75230.
PUBLICATION DEADLINE: The Friday following the first Wednesday of each
month is the deadline for submitting material for the following month's
issue of the NI BULLETIN .
MEMBERSHIP FEE: Individual & Club Membership - $10.00 Annually.
Junior Membership (18 years of age and under) - $7.00 Annually.
Senior Membership (70 years of age and over) - $7.00 Annually.
Write to NUMISMATICS INTERNATIONAL, P. 0. BOX 30013, DALLAS, TX 75230
USA for information concerning membership in NI.
34
INSIDE N.l.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
February 1980 Applications for Membership: The following persons have
applied for membership. If no written objections are received by April
1, 1980, their membership will become effective on that date.
(MT = Mail Trader)
1582- MT Ronald Low, 282-B Joo Chiat Road, Singapore, 1542, Republic of
Singapore — (Gold Coins of the World, World Crowns)
1583- MT Frantisek Sedlacek, Janosikova 1228/78, Proha 4, KRC 142 00,
Czechoslovakia — (United Kingdom, Br. Commonwealth, Mexico, US)
1584- MT C. Jan Bubela, 3400 First Int . Building, Dallas, TX 75270
(Medieval Bohemia, Austria, France, Indian States,
Latin American Crowns)
1585- MT Simcha Kuritzky, 5403 Mad River Road, Columbia, Md. 21044
(World Coins, Currency, Tokens)
1586- MT Mr. Christian Achain , 1 Rue Claude Bernard, 60100 Nogent/Oise,
France — (World Types)
REINSTATEMENT : The following member has complied with the By-Laws
and is hereby reinstated to full membership:
1291-MT Dr. Yahya Berkman, 360 East 72nd St., Apt. 3001, N.Y., N.Y.
10021 — (Islamic Coins, Seljuk)
1980 DUES: All members who have not paid their 1980 dues are reminded
that they were due by January 31, 1980 and you are now in arrears.
All mailings to members with unpaid dues will be suspended shortly.
*****
DONATIONS REPORT: We wish to acknowledge the following donations re-
ceived since the last report:
Donation and
Name
Stated Value
Preference of Use
BORKOWSKI, Kenneth D.
$3.00 Cash
NI BULLETIN Fund
CARPENTER, Dale S.
$2.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
EGLSEER, Wilhelm R.
$2.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
EISEN, Stuart E.
$5.00 Cash
NI BULLETIN Fund
F0RW00D, Edmund
$5.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
FRALEY, Marvin L.
$5.00 Cash
NI BULLETIN Fund
FRALEY, Marvin L.
$100.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
MULLAN, Bill
$10.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
NEAL, Wyatt W. , Sr.
$5.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
SMITH, M. C.
$5.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
WRIGHT, Wra. H.
$3.00 Cash
General Operating Fund
35
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
I. No new editions to our Library this month but we did receive from
Richard Hanscom two works on The Netherlands that supplemented two al-
ready on the shelves. Duplicates help and we are pleased to receive
them for we prefer to keep two copies of each work so that we do not
have to delay any requests. Duplicate copies over and above are gen-
erally traded with other libraries for their excess that we do not hav
II. In addition to the above, Richard also sent us copies of a local
numismatic bulletin. This is something that we haven't mentioned in
the past but we are interested in receiving copies of other numismatic
organizations periodicals.
III. We also received another large shipment of price lists and sale
catalogs from Lauren Benson (those members doing business with him
should mention their thanks for his support of HI) . For reference pur-
poses, we are especially interested in catalogs (both domestic and
foreign) that also contain good photographs of the coins being sold.
We have now arranged for these catalogs and price lists in excess of
our needs to be shipped to the American Numismatic Association for
their use. We might add, however, that our members have first choice
and if any of our readers are in need of specific catalogs or magazines
please let us know and we will be glad to make them available to you
in exchange for postage and handling.
IV. The Library is in need of the following books for its collection:
a. The Silver Benelux 3 by A. Delmonte.
b. Medieval English Jetons, by George Berry.
c. Anglo-Gallic Coiris , by Hewlett.
d. Historical Atlas , by Shepherd.
The Library is still very weak in the English token section and any
help that we can get from our members will be appreciated.
Granvyl G. Hulse, Jr.
NI Librarian
*****
EDITOR'S CORNER
While we still have a good supply of material on hand, we can always
use articles. Material on all subjects is welcome (except U.S. numis-
matics), so please consider NI with your next (or first) article.
Following is a partial listing of articles coming in future issues.
"The Ten Yen U.S. Propaganda Forgeries of the Pacific War", by Dr.
Felix D. Bertalanffy.
"Early Writers on Coins of Asia", by David G. Briggs.
"Canadian Trade Dollars: a fascinating new field in Canadian numis-
matics", by Jerry Remick and Serge Pelletier.
"Turkish F.A.O. Coins", by Giivendik Figekgioglu.
"The Demise of the Very Popular Venezuelan 5 Bolivar Note", by Harold
A. Rodriguez.
36
FROM THE MAILBOX
Questions misleading monetary values published in December issue
Regarding the selling rates for banknotes of the world (NI BULLETIN 3
December 1979, pp42i-424), Jerry Remick frequently gets these tables
published in many numismatic journals, but they can be misleading for
certain countries, and in some cases the rates quoted are absolutely
wrong! Some countries have not one, but two or even three rates of
exchange, which may differ widely. It should also be pointed out that
these rates are those for market prices for selling notes in the U.S.A.
and these rates may be very different from the official selling rates
set by the individual countries themselves. This will affect the col-
lector who wishes to buy directly from the country itself, or the deal-
er who wants to import directly from the country. Also of great im-
portance, but not mentioned by Jerry Remick, is that many countries
forbid the export and import of their notes, particularly the communist
countries, so it is against their law to send notes to collectors or
dealers who may order notes or coins from them. In these cases, the
rates of exchange quoted in the table are merely nominal as far as
paper money is concerned: the paper money of these countries is tech-
nically valueless once it is outside the country of issue! The rates
of exchange apply only to commercial transactions, that is, book ac-
counts, and not to hard cash in the form of paper money and coins.
Some of the rates quoted apply only if you take U.S. paper money into
the country yourself and exchange it for the country's paper money on
the spot at official exchangers. This is often called the tourist's
discount rate. The rate would not apply if you tried to buy something
by mail. The difference, between the tourist rate and official com-
mercial rate can sometimes be more than 50%.
There are a few countries which have a general "free” rate, applicable
to non-commercial transactions of any sort, and officially recognized
by the government. When this "free" rate is not recognized officially,
it is called a "black market rate". This rate can only be obtained by
visiting the country and exchanging any "strong" or "hard" currency
secretly on the streets for the local paper money. Collectors and
dealers do this at their own risk, especially when it is prohibited to
export the paper money of the country.
A few countries have different exchange rates for different commodities
or purposes, and these may total as many as five or six different rates
of exchange!
All the above remarks apply to "soft" or "weak" monetary units, or
those of communist countries, or those countries which prohibit the
export of their paper money; or any combination of two or three of
these factors. These varying rates do not apply to the "hard" or
"strong" currencies of Western Europe, parts of the Americas, and
parts of the Pacific region, and to nearly all the countries' currenc-
ies quoted in the daily financial newspapers.
Except in the above instance, the rates of exchange quoted in Remick 's
article are not to be taken as a basis for ordering paper money or
coins directly from the country, or calculating the face value of a
note compared with the price it is being offered for sale to collectors.
37
In some cases the cost of smuggling notes out of a country, at great
risk to the smuggler, more than accounts for any difference between
the official rate of exchange and any black market rate which the
person obtains.
To give one example of different rates in 1971: in India, the official
rate was 7.50 rupees to the U.S. dollar, both for commercial trans-
actions and tourists, but a tourist could obtain 10 rupees to the dol-
lar by exchanging U.S. paper money on the streets and in stores. For
large transactions of this nature the black market rate was around 14
rupees to the dollar. Two years later, after two devaluations of the
dollar, the dollar fetched only the same rate on the black market as
the free rate in 1971: 10 rupees, and the free rate was 9 rupees,
the official rate was around 7.50, as before.
One of the rates which is quoted in the table on page 423 is completely
erroneous, because the currency does not exist! It has not existed
now for nearly five years! This is the Cambodian riel, quoted at
$0.0008, or 1,250 riels = $1.
After the communist conquest of Cambodia in April, 1975, there has
been no money in use, by order of the government. The communists put
two shells into the National Bank of Cambodia, put an armed guard on
it, and closed it off. Shortly afterwards, all people were evacuated
from the cities and put to work on the land, and a moneyless "economy"
was enforced. A television report in early 1979 showed the National
Bank of Cambodia as it is now: a gutted building with the top floor
shelled, exactly as it was in April 1975. The report also showed
soldiers camping in the lower floor, and using the paper money as
fuel for their cooking pots. The walls of the bank were still lined
with unopened crates of paper money. Some crates had been opened and
the television crew were wading ankle deep in worthless paper money!
One of the crew picked up a handful of notes which consisted of 100
riels and 500 riels (Pick 11, 12 and 16). There were also crates of
notes which had never been issued because the communists took over be-
fore they could be released. These were reported to be a new design
for the 100 riel note, and a new denomination of 1,000 riels (some of
which have appeared on the collector's market during the past year).
The old communist government has been replaced this year by a new one,
backed by North Viet-Namese forces, but a new television report shown
last October showed that there was no money in use in Cambodia, even
now. The actual standard of exchange in the newly established markets
was one kilogram of rice (imported from Viet-Nam) . It was reported
that 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds) of rice could buy one kilogram of
meat.
Such has been the monetary situation in Cambodia during the past five
years, nearly. There is no such money as a riel, quoted at "$0.0008"
in the table of exchange rates on page 423 of the December NI BULLETIN !
This was, in fact, the rate of exchange in April 1975 when 1,200 riels
were being given for a U.S. dollar until the communists took over the
government, after which there was no rate of exchange, and no money in
use .
John G. Humphris
Sidney, Ohio
38
Seeking help on rare and scarce U.S.S.R. coins
HELP WANTED! Knowledge of U.S.S.R. coins in your collection or in
dealers' stock. Soviet coins that are listed as rare or priced in
the extra fine column at over $100 in the 19H0 edition of the Stand-
ard Catalog of World Coins. DO THEY EXIST?
All replies will be kept in the strictest confidence and individually
answered with the results of this poll. In addition, numbers and in-
formation received will be reported gratis to the numismatic press,
organizations and catalog publishers, to bring the community up-to-date.
Additional information on this series is needed!
For those who wish to contact me my address is: Eli A. Homza, 308
Scene Ridge Road, McKeesport, PA 15133, USA. I am a member of the
Russian Numismatic Society, NI, OIN, ANA and others. As a collector,
I would like to correct the lack of information on the coinage of the
Soviet Union.
An example is the silver coinage of 1931 consisting of the 10, 15, and
20 kopeks. Mintage in the millions are reported! Harris, Holmasto,
Kaim and others list these in all grades in the catalogs. Yet in five
years of concentrated searching the world over I have not found ANYONE
who has SEEN specimens of these coins. DO THEY EXIST? Wouldn't it be
nice to know?
At about the time I began my search, COIN WORLD (July 10, 1974) report-
ed the finding of an apparently genuine Soviet 20 kopek of 1934 in
East Germany. Robert P. Harris lists the piece in his Guidebook of
Russian Coins as only TWO specimens known, on a reported mintage of
over seventy million. DO OTHERS EXIST? Wouldn't it be nice to know?
In addition, I would like to report if anyone has seen specimens of
"mules" such as are priced in the Standard Catalog of World Coins or
patterns that were made during the various Soviet coinage reforms.
For example, the 25 kopek dated 1955 as reported by I. V. Victorov-
Orlov in the NI BULLETIN (Jan. 1976, p30).
To paraphrase the international class-war revolutionary slogan: "Work-
ers of the World, UNITE!' found on some pre-1935 coins of the Soviet
Union. Let me say, "COLLECTORS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!". Let me know if
you have, or have seen any of these coins. Tf the catalog listings
are erroneous or lack information, NOW is the time to correct them.
Eli Andres Homza
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
******************************** * * * * ************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CORRECTION - CORRECTION - CORRECTION - CORRECTION - CORRECTION
As two NI members have already pointed out to us, your editor made a
"beaut of a typo" on thp next to last line on page 433 of the December
issue. In Rev. I. C. G. Campbell’s review of the JOURNAL OF THE NUMIS-
MATIC SOCIETY OF INDIA , his wording was "auspicious" instead of our
typo "suspicious1 . Our apologies to Rev. Campbell and others who
could not make sense out of the wording.
Editor .
39
HITLER ELECTION TOKENS
■ THE STRUGGLE TO POWER
by Darrel J. Doll3 Besseribach, Germany 3 NI § 1487
Soon after Hitler's unsuccessful Putsch, he realized than an armed re-
volt would never again be feasible. Now he thought he would let the
German people put him in power, legally.
During Hitler's trial he decided to use every opportunity to announce
his political views. The judge was moved as Hitler received an extreme
ly light sentence, 5 years in the Lansberg Fortress prison and to be
eligible for parole in 6 months. General Ludendorf got off free.
On May 4, 1924, the Reichstag elections were held. Although official-
ly banned, the National Socialists Democratic Workers Party, or NSDAP
as it was known, was able to win 32 seats. The German Chancellor Marx,
however, wished to broaden his political base so he could rule with a
majority of the Reichstag. When the other parties refused to join him,
he dissolved the Reichstag. A new election was held on December 7,
1924. Because of the Dawes Plan aiding the German economy, the radical
left and right parties lost out. The Nazis lost 14 seats. Hitler was
pardoned by the new government and was home in time for Christmas, serv
ing only 8 and one-half months of his 5 year sentence.
While in prison, Hitler was treated like a king. He had the best food,
plenty of reading material, a valet and a secretary. He started his
book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) and still directed, although not as
tightly, the Nazi maneuvers.
On May 20, 1928, the Reichstag was dissolved over an insignificant
education issue. The Nazis lost 100,000 votes and 2 seats.
After the United States stock market crash of 1929 and the economic
depression which followed it, foreign aid to Germany was greatly re-
duced. German Chancellor Bruning decided that what Germany needed was
more tougher measures to see her through the crisis. When Bruning
could not receive any support for his program due to a coalition of
Nazis, Communists, Nationalists and Social Democrats, he dissolved the
Reichstag. Voting for the 5th Reichstag took place on September 14,
1930 with the Nazis gaining 95 more seats making them the second larg-
est party.
On July 31, 1932, voting for the 6th Reichstag took place with the
Nazis gaining 123 more seats. This was due largely to the worsening
economic times being felt in Germany. The Nazis were now the leading
party but not quite attaining the needed majority.
Herman Goring, Hitler's right hand man, was now the President of the
Reichstag. Chancellor von Papen, after a confrontation with Goring,
received a vote of no confidence by the delegates of the Reichstag
40
(42 supported him, 512 did not) . The Reichstag was again dissolved
and the elections were held on November 6, 1932. After this election
the Nazis lost 34 seats.
Hitler, after von Papen's no confidence show, now saw his chance.
After von Papen's resignation, Reichs President Hindenburg reluctantly
appointed Hitler Chancellor on January 30, 1933. Hindenburg also gave
the order to dissolve the Reichstag so that new elections could be held
to give Hitler the much needed majority. On March 5, 1933 elections
were held giving the Nazis 288 seats, still not enough, but after elim-
inating the communist's 81 seats, (Herman Goring was also head of the
Prussian Ministry and after the Reichstag fire on February 27, 1933 he
used his police powers to round up all the communists) Hitler now had
his clear majority by 5 seats. The Reichstag was dissolved for the
last time on March 23, 1933 after more than 80% of the delegates voted
Hitler full powers. The struggle to power was over.
At or before most of the elections, tokens were given out to the voters
with the idea of keeping the candidate on the voter's mind. The Nazis
used this interesting propaganda tool quite effectively and extensively.
Made of aluminum, about 30mm in diameter, these struck pieces usually
came with a common obverse with a bust (left) of Adolf Hitler. The
words: DER FUKRER AUS DER NOT ADOLF HITLER (The Leader of the Movement
Adolf Hitler). On most of the pieces there are 2 stars (at 2 o'clock
and 10 o'clock). Interesting enough, they are 6-pointed or Stars of
David and they remained as part of the design until about 1932 when
they were changed to the 5-pointed variety. The reverses come in var-
ieties which some I have listed below.
1. May 20, 1928 Reichstag Election. In the centqr WAHLT NATIONAL-
SOZIALISTEN LISTE 12 (Vote IJationalsocialism Row 12) . Surrounding
by the rim DER DEUTSCHEN ARBEIT WOLLEN WIR DEN WEG ZUR FREIHEIT
BAHNEN (The German Workers Desire the Way to Freedom). At 6 o'clock
is a 6-pointed star.
2. November 8, 1930 Local Election. Above around rim WAHT AM 8 NOV 30.
Below around rim DIE HITLER BEWEGUNG (The Hitler Movement). Legend
surrounds a small eagle with swastika in center. There are 6-point-
ed stars at 8 and 4 o'clock. (Photo on next page).
3. November 6, 1932 Reichstag Election. In the center WAHLT LIST 1
NATIONALSOZIALISTEN (Vote Row 1 Nationalsocialism) . Surrounding by
the rim NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHE DEUTSCHE ARBEITER PARTE I (National
The Tokens
41
5. Combination voting and donation token for the Reichstag Election
of July 31, 1932. Obverse: Eagle with swastika and below HEIL
Socialist German Workers Party). At 6 o'clock is a swastika.
4. Multi-purpose election token. In center WAHLT ADOLF HITLER (Vote
Adolf Hitler). Below is a swastika surrounded by rays. Around
the rim NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHE DEUTSCHE ARBEITER PARTEI .
42
HITLER! Around the rim NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHE DEUTSCHE ARBEITER
PART El . Reverse: In center MACHT DEUTSCHLANDFREI ! WAHLT LISTE 2
(Make Germany Free! Vote Row 2). Below is 31.7.1932. Around the
rim RM 020 GABICH FUR DEN DEUTSCHEN FREHEITS KAMPF (I Gave .20
Reichsmarks for the German Freedom Fight). At 6'oclock is a
6-pointed stat .
This, I hope, gives the collector an overview of Hitler election
tokens. I have seen numerous other varieties/dates, all with the same
obverse. Although one would think that these are very common, they
remain very elusive, even after many years of ardent searching.
CONTENTS OF THE NI REFERENCE COLLECTION
(Only coins grading FINE or better are being listed, in this continuing
inventory of the NI REFERENCE COLLECTION. Members desiring to borrow
coins from the collection for research purposes , lecture use , non-
competitive displays, or any other reasons, may do so by paying postage
and insurance both directions.)
(Coins in the collection which are UNCIRCULATED are underlined ■ )
INDIA (Continued from last month): Y85 - 1966C, 1968B; Y86 - 1970B;
Y87 - ND(C) ; Y88 - ND(B) ; Y89 - ND (B) ; YB93 - 1973B, 1975B; Y94.1
1973B; Y98 - 1973B; Y107 - 1976B.
INDONESIA: Sumatra - British East India Co.: C22-AH1200; C25a -
A1I1219 .
East Indies - Dutch: CF2 - 1784, 1786, 1790, 1794; CG2 - 1780;
CH2a - 1786, 1790; Y14a - 1942S, 1945S; Y15a - 1941P, 1942S;
Y18.2 - 1945P; Y20 - 1945P; Y21 - 1938, 1942P, 1945D; P33 - AH1250
Indonesia: Y1 - 1952; Y2 - 1951; Y3 - 1951, 1954; Y3a - 1957; Y4 -
1952; Y5 - 1952; Y5a - 1955, 1957; Y6 - 1955, 1957; Y7 - 1958,
1961; Y13 - 1970; Y16 - 1971; Y17 - 1971; Y18 - 1971; Y19 - 1973;
Y20 - 1974; Y21 - 1974.
Timur: Y1 - 1951; Y8 - 1958; Y12 - 1970; Y13 - 1970.
IRAN: Y23 - 1326; Y24 - 1318; Y71 - 1333; Y104 - 1315; Y128 - 1317,
1321/0; Y137 - 1343; YA140a - 1340, 1349, 1351; YB140 - 1346;
YC140b - 1350; YD140 - 1338; Y149 - 1348; Y151 - 1350; Y152 - 1351
IRAQ: Y1 - 1352; Y8 - 1357; Y9a - 1357 Dot; Y9b - 1371 Dot; YlOb -
1371; Yll - 1357; Y13 - 1362; Y15 - 1372; Y17 - 1372; Y18 - 1372;
Y24 - 1379; Y47 - 1395; Y48 - 1395.
******** ******************** ******************************************
WANTED, URGENTLY!
The editorial staff of the NI BULLETIN seldom has problems in getting
good material to publish, thanks to our many fine contributory with the
exception of one thing - fillers. We urgently need short filler items
running from just 3, 4 or 5 lines all the way up to about 7/8 of a
page. How about helping us out with some filler material?
43
REUTERGELD:
an adjunct to notgeld.
by W. A. Haskell } Pfaffenrot3 West Germany , HI #LM1 5
(All photos are 3/4 actual size)
During the grim years from 1914 through 1923, the flood of emergency
money in Germany and Austria reached epidemic proportions and is well
known. When the collecting of notgeld became popular after 1918, much
was issued for the collector rather than for genuine circulation.
With these came abuses designed to deceive the collector and part him
with as much genuine money as possible, and some of these abuses in-
cluded downright fraud, even to the extent of creating issues for
towns that didn't exist!
A single entrepreneur was the creative force behind the unification
of some 70 town and districts that issued "Reutergeld" in 1922. Denom-
inated in 10, 25 and 50 Pfennig notes, they were issued in 1922 and
44
pay homage to the Mecklenburg poet, Fritz Reuter, with stylized ar-
tistic illustrations and quotations from his poetry. The artistic
representations are a balanced blend of local scenes and were never
intended to circulate as emergency money, but were aimed solely at
the collector.
45
It is still poss-
ible to assemble
the entire set of
Reutergeld at mod-
est cost, and
makes and inter-
esting adjunct
to the more dif-
ficult collecting
of circulating
notgeld. Just a
few examples are
illustrated on
the pages of this
short introduction
to the collecting
of Reutergeld.
46
PAPER MONEY OF THE IMPERIAL PAHLAVI DYNASTY OF IRAN
by John G. Humphvis, Sidney , Ohio , NI § 1267
(Ed.: The following is a description of the various notes covered in
the book COLLECTION OF NOTES ISSUED IN THE PERIOD OF FIFTY YEARS OF
THE IMPERIAL PAHLAVj DYNASTY. This Farsi text book was recently do-
nated to the NI Library by Robert L. Clarke and is reviewed by the
author in the Book Reviews section of this NI BULLETIN . )
The very beautiful and invaluable book, COLLECTION OF NOTES ISSUED IN
THE PERIOD OF FIFTY YEARS OF THE IMPERIAL PAHLAVI DYNASTY begins with
the notes printed by the American Bank Note Company of 5, 10, 20, 50,
100 and 500 rials which were issued in 1932 (Pick 18-23).
The next series of notes were also printed by the ABNC (Pick 24-30),
but the book states that they were issued in 1314 S.H. (1934); how-
ever, notes have been seen which are dated 1313 (1934), also.
After the last issue, all notes have been printed in England. The
series after the above series are dated in the print plate, instead of
separately. These are the notes with French texts on the back, dated
1316 (1937), but a 10-rial is known to exist which is dated 1315 (1936).
This is not included in the book, which also does not include a 500-rial
denomination, listed in the Pick catalogue (P-37a) , which probably does
not exist.
The next series, dated 1317 (1938), replaces the French texts on the
reverse by Farsi texts. This series includes a spectacular, giant,
unissued 10,000 rials denomination (unlisted in Pick). This was equiv-
alent to 100 gold pahlavi, as stated on the note. The gold pahlavi
has the same pure gold content as the British gold sovereign, or
0.23542 troy ounce of pure gold. In 1938 this 100 pahlavi note had a
face value of $823.97, with gold at $35.00 an ounce (today this would
be around $9,680.00!). This series of notes is also known with over-
prints on the reverses indicating that they were put into circulation
between 1319 and 1322 (1940-1943), but these are not illustrated in
this book. They were issued mostly during the British-Russian occup-
ation of Iran during World War II. The shah was deposed by them in
September 1941, because of his pro-German activities.
No notes were issued with the new shah's portrait until 1323 (1944),
but the Pick catalogue states that these were issued in "1941", er-
roneously (Pick 39-46).
A new series of notes, with new designs, and reduced sizes, was is-
sued in 1948 and 1951, according to this book. The series is undated
on the notes, like the last series. The new notes are listed in Pick
as numbers 47 through 53.
Dates reappear on the next three series issued by the National Bank of
Iran: 1330, 1332, 1333 and 1337. Those dated 1337 (1958) are the
last notes to be issued with the old bank name. These notes are the
same as listed in the Pick catalogue, with the exception of Pick 71
and 72 which are not illustrated in this book, and therefore these
notes do not exist.
47
The first issue of notes with the bank's new name (Bank Markazi Iran)
are dated 1340 (1961). In this book, these notes are included in the
same series as notes dated 1341 and 1342 which have different designs.
The book does not illustrate or mention the 20-rial note dated 1340
(Pick 75), but this note does exist.
Notes of the same design as above, but dated 1343, or without dates,
comprise the second series of notes issued by the Central Bank. They
were all issued in 1343 (1964) according to the book. Notes of this
series and the previous series have a portrait of the shah in "Air
Force" uniform, according to this book. The Pick catalogue is very
confused in listing this, and the next three series! Some notes are
catalogued twice, and some notes are catalogued which do not exist!
In the third series the shah is depicted in Army uniform, as on older
issues, and all later series. None of the notes are dated from now
until the present, except for the commemorative issues of 1350 (1971)
and 2535 (1976).
The collector needs to know the actual notes which were issued from
1961 to 1974, despite what is listed in Pick, and these are the series
as listed in this book published by the Central Bank of Iran:
First Issue of the Central Bank:
Designs are same as the 1337-dated notes, only the name of the bank
is different.
10 rial, 1340
20 rial, 1340 (not listed in the book, but exists)
New portrait (Air Force uniform) and new designs.
50 rial, 1341 500 rial, 1341
100 rial, 1342 1000 rial, 1341
Second Issue of the Central Bank:
Same designs as above except for 20 rials; new denomination of 200
rials. Issued 1343 (1964). (n.d. = no date)
20 rials, n.d. (1964)
50 rials, n.d. (1964)
50 rials, 1343 (1964)
(same design, but dated)
100 rials, n.d. (1964)
200 rials, n.d. (1964)
500 rials, n.d. (1964)
1,000 rials, n.d. (1964)
Third Issue of the Central Bank:
Same designs as above, except for a new portrait. Issued 1345-1346
(1966-1967). Undated. These notes have the name of the bank on the
front in two colors, with the lettering outlined as in the above
series. On the next series, the name of the bank is in one color,
with lettering in dark print.
20 rials, n.d. (1966-67) 200 rials, n.d. (1966-67)
50 rials,. n.d. (1966-67) 500 rials, n.d. (1966)
100 rials, n.d. (1966-67) 1,000 rials, n.d. (1967)
Fourth Issue of the Central Bank:
Same designs and portrait as above, but the bank's name on the front
48
is in one color, with dark lettering. 20-rial not issued, but new
high denominations added. Undated. Issued 1348-1353 (1969-1974).
50 rials, n.d. (1969-74) 1,000 rials, n.d. (1969-74)
100 rials, n.d. (1969-74) 5,000 rials, n.d. (1969)
200 rials, n.d. (1969-74) 10,000 rials, n.d. (1969-74)
500 rials, n.d. (1969-74)
Commemorative Issue dated 1350 (1971).
New designs issued to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the
Iranian Empire. These two notes were issued within the period of
the above series.
50 rials, 1350 (1971). (Pick has "1973" in error.)
100 rials, 1350 (1971).
The back of the 50-rial note depicts the shah "bestowing deeds of
(land) ownership to one of the villagers" according to the book.
This was in connection with the Land Reform, when large estates
were divided up among farmers who now possessed the land instead
of farming it for some large land owner.
The back of the 100-rial notes shows three vignettes labeled
"Health, Agriculture, Education" (from left to right). The book
describes them as "three scenes from the shah's and people's
reforms".
The final series of notes are those first issued between 1353 and 1354
(1974-75), and still in use today, but issued with the shah's portrait
obliterated in 1979. The 20-rial denomination was reintroduced on New
Year's Day (21 March), 1354 (1974), according to the book. Not includ-
ed in the book is the 200-rial note having 6-point stars in the back-
ground design on the reverse; only the note modified with 12-point stars
is illustrated! A 1,000-rial note exists in this series, which is not
in Pick. The series is undated.
20
rials ,
n.d.
(1974-75)
500 rials, n.d.
(1974-75)
50
rials ,
n.d.
(1974-75)
1000 rials, n.d.
(1974-75)
100
rials, n.d.
(1974-75)
5000 rials, n.d.
(1974-75)
200
rials, n.d.
(1974-75)
10,000 rials, n.
d. (1974-75)
(two types)
Within the last series, a commemorative 100-rial note was issued in
2535 (1976) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pahlavi Dynasty.
It depicts the shah and his father, with a view of the "first building
of the National Bank of Iran". The reverse illustrates the "symbol of
the 50th anniversary": a crown surrounded by 50 "suns", symbolizing
50 solar years. This symbol also appears in pale blue and gold on the
front cover of the book.
The new "Imperial Era" was introduced on New Year's Day: 21 March,
1976, which started the year 2535. The Empire dates from the death
of Cyrus the Great in 529 B.C. His tomb at Pasargadae is depicted on
the 500-rial note issued 1317, the 50 rial note issed in the series
1353-54 and the 50-rial note issued in the series 1323, 1325. Imperial
Era dates are used throughout this book, and these have been converted
to solar Hijra dates and A.D. dates in the preceding descriptions of
the notes. The Imperial Era started in 559 B.C., so dates in the book
49
are converted by subtracting 559 from the Imperial Era.
Iranian coins show dates up to 1354, solar Hijra, or 1975; but the
following year was changed from 1355 to 2535 on the coins. Coins are
dated 2535, 2536 and 2537 (1978), but during this year the older cal-
endar was resumed, and coins issued in 1978 are also dated 1357. There
was great opposition among the religious leaders in Iran to this new
Imperial Era which was based on the long, continuous history of Iran.
The religious leaders (mollahs and ayatollahs) objected to this "pagan"
revival, and the abolishing of the religious era, and it was one of the
excuses they used to promote the downfall of the shah.
The shah's father had more success in introducing the solar Hijra cal-
endar in 1925, but the era was based on Muslim foundations: the flight
of Mohammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. (July 16 in the Julian
calendar). Nevertheless, this was also a "pagan" (but more efficient)
revival, because this calendar system was the old Iranian one, in use
before the Muslim conquest of Iran. The solar calendar was reintroduc-
ed on 21 March 1925, which was New Year's Day, 1304 S.H. This corre-
sponded to 25 Sha'ban 1343 in the Muslim tunar calendar system. The
Muslim lunar calendar comprises 12 months of alternatively 30 and 29
days, giving 354 days to a year, or 355 in leap years, and is therefore
deficient by 11 to 12 days compared with a solar year, an imperfect
system.
Solar A.H. dates are converted to A.D. by adding 621, or 622 between
1 January and 20 March of the following year. Imperial Era dates are
converted to A.D. by subtracting 559, or 558 between 1 January and 20
March of the following year. New Year's Day is on the Spring Equinox
in both systems, but in the lunar calendar systems, it falls 10 to 11
days earlier each solar year.
The collector and researcher may like to know the face value of the
Iranian notes when they were issued. The value of the rial falls
into five periods:
1) 1932-36 when the rial was tied to the British gold pound at
100 rials = 1 pound. This was the rate set by the government,
but in late 1932, the gold standard was suspended indefinitely
by the Iranian government, so this rate became ineffective. By
this valuation, 100 rials was worth $8.25 with gold at $35.00
an ounce after 1933. In practice, no exchange rates were quoted
for the rial between late 1932 and 1935.
2) 1936-39. The rate of exchange was quoted nominally at 80-1/2
rials = 1 pound sterling (paper) . This made 100 rials worth around
$6.20.
3) Dec. 1939 - May 1942. The rial was tied to the U.S. dollar after
depreciation of the pound in 1938-39. The rate was fixed at 17
rials = $1, or 100 rials = $5.88.
4) May 1942 - 1954. In 1942, the rial was again valued by the British
pound during the British-Russian occupation of World War II. The
rate was fixed at 128 rials = 1 pound, or 32 rials = $1. The rial
was not devalued with the pound in 1949, so it became effectively
linked to the U.S. dollar again, at 32-1/4 rials = $1, or 100 rials
= $3.10.
50
5) 1954 to the present. The rial depreciated rapidly during 1954,
and this was stopped by a reform in February 1955 when the rate
was fixed at 75.75 rials = $1, or 100 rials = $1.32. This remain-
ed fixed until December 1971, when the dollar was devalued, and
the rial rose slightly in value. Its value rose again after the
1973 devaluation of the dollar, but since then it has depreciated
a little, buc not back to the old rate yet. In late 1979, 100
rials was worth around $1.40. The highest denomination bank note
of 10,000 rials, has therefore a face value of $140.00.
The book on Iranian bank notes does not show signature combination
varieties, and I propose to incorporate this information together
with my own researches and the information in this book to prepare a
definitive type catalogue of Iranian notes. The designs of each note
will also be described, using the information provided in this book,
which I have translated. (It took me three days to translate the
whole book of 55 pages, and 188 descriptions of the notes.) The book
is available from the NI Library (without the translations).
**********************************************************************
NOTE ON THE PROPOSED UNESCO BAN
by I. C. G. Campbell, Weeping Water, Nebraska , NI #LM-12
A friend wrote me recently about a sad but all too common story which
undoubtedly will be increased if the UNESCO law about antiques, speci-
fically coins, goes into effect in many countries. It is also a
tragic result of the increased values of metals, gold, silver and
copper.
Farm workers were in a wheat field near Moga, N. Punjab, India recently.
The farmer was plowing when his plow struck a metal object. As the
other laborers were present, he noted the place carefully, then re-
turned at night to dig it up. He found a copper jar with either a
metal plate or an engraved top. The legend was in Kharosthi - for
Indian coins a fact more important than the coins themselves some-
times. He then sold the pot to the silversmith where it was melted
down for the metal. It was full of coins.
Incidentally, I receive a number of catalogs from coin dealers and
others which show antiques of many kinds and from many countries for
sale, as well as the actual coins. From my work in museums I know
that many of these objects, though not tremendous in themselves,
should be resting in a museum either in the country of origin or in
the country to which they are sent for sale. Admittedly, the museums,
presumably, have the same chance to buy them as do collectors but very
few museums, where smaller objects of this kind would be shown, have
free money to buy such purchases as they come up. Everyone's budget
it tight. One of the saddest of such objects are the fragments of
cloth of great antiquity; this is so for two reasons. There is not
so much of this material found because it is so perishable; and since
it is perishable it will vanish or be destroyed when the average col-
lectors dies and his/her heirs have no idea of its significance.
51
NEW ISSUES WITH ASSIGNED YEOMAN NUMBERS
(The catalog numbers assigned to new issue coin listings published
here are supplied and copyrighted by Western Publishing Co., Inc.,
Whit man Coin Products, Racine, Wise., U.S.A. No further use of
these numbers in any other publication is authorized.)
* Collectors' Coins
BAHAMAS
* Y54 25 Dollars 1979, .925 Silver, (42mm)
* Y55 250 Dollars 1979, .900 Gold (26.16mm)
Y54-55: 250th Anniversary Parliament
BELIZE
* Y27 100 Dollars 1979, .500 Gold (26.16mm), Christmas 1979
ISRAEL
* Y89 100 Lirot 1979, .500 Silver (34mm), Chanukah 1979
MACAO
* Y12 100 Patacas 1980, .925 Silver (38.6mm), Year of the Monkey
* Y13 500 Patacas 1980, .9167 Gold (22.1mm), Year of the Monkey
SAN MARINO
* Y87 1 Scudo 1979, .9167 Gold (16mm), Peace
* Y88 2 Scudi 1979, .9167 Gold (22mm), Peace
SOUTH AFRICA
Y114 2 Cents 1979, Bronze (25mm), New Coinage
Y118 1 Rand 1979, Nickel (30.9mm), New Coinage
VENEZUELA |
* Y54 500 Bolivares 1975, .900 Gold, Nationalization of Oil Industry
(This coin was made for presentation purposes only.)
VIETNAM
Two new and distinct issues are known from Vietnam. After
South Vietnam fell to communist forces during 1975 there was
a brief co-existence of two communist states. The issue of
coins from the short-lived southern communist republic is as
follows :
Y14 1 Xu ND (1975), Aluminum (19.2mm), Central Hole
Y15 2 Xu 1975, Aluminum (21.1mm), Central Hole
Y16 5 Xu ND (1975), Aluminum (23.1mm), Central Hole
Legend: NGAN HANG VIET NAM
Numbering continues listings under Vietnam, South.
Reunification of Vietnam as a Socialist Republic took place
during 1976. The issue of coins from the now unified Viet-
namese state is as follows:
Y8 1 Xu 1976, Aluminum, Central Hole (reported)
Y9 2 Xu 1976, Aluminum, Central Hole (reported)
Y10 5 Xu 1976, Aluminum, Central Hole (reported)
Yll 1 Hao 1976, Aluminum (19mm)
Y12 2 Hao 1976, Aluminum (21.5mm)
Y13 5 Hao 1976, Aluminum (22.9mm)
Y14 1 Dong 1976 Aluminum (26.4mm)
Legend: NGAN HANG NHA NUOC VIET NAM
Numbering continues litings under Vietnam, North.
52
NUMISMATIC PUBLICATIONS IN INDIA AND SRI LANKA
by David G. Briggs , Meredith, N. H., NI # 1444
The Library of Congress maintains an office in New Delhi which purchases
most of the new books and periodicals published in India and Sri Lanka
(Ceylon). These publications are added to the Library of Congress col-
lection, and are distributed to some 26 other libraries throughout the
United States - mostly at the principal universities - where they may
be consulted.
The acquisition lists of these purchases are a convenient way to keep
tabs on what is being published in India in the fields of numismatics,
history and archaeology, and the references below are summarized from
that source.
One of the principal museums in Kashmir has reissued a Handbook of the
archaeological and numismatic sections of the Sri Pratap Singh Ituseum,
Sringar , by Ram Chandra Kak. It is an illustrated booklet of 163 pages,
a reprint of the 1923 edition published by Thacker, Spink of Calcutta.
This reprint is put out by the Government Press, Sringar, with a cover
price of Rupees 7.00 ($1.40).
Another recent booklet of interest to specialists in Indian coins is
Religion and iconography on early Indian coins, by Om Prakash Singh.
This is a revised version of the author's thesis at Magadh University,
published by Bharati Prakashan in Varanasi (formerly Benares). It has
12 pages of introduction, 112 pages of text, and 7 plates, a biblio-
graphy, and an index. It is priced at Rs. 40 ($8.00).
In the periodical field, The Journal of the Numismatic Society of
Madhya Pradesh has appeared in English or Hindi. (The Library of
Congress notation says Volume 1 was dated 1972.) The Society's ad-
dress is: c/o Central Museum, Indore 542001, India.
South of India, in the island republic of Sri Lanka, the Colombo
Museum has reissued the long-awaited reprint of Ceylon Coins and Cur-
rency, by Humphrey W. Codrington. This was originally published in
1924 as No. 3, Memoirs of the Colombo Museum, Series A, and has long
been out of print. This new edition is a faithful reproduction of the
original classic, but without the revisions and additions originally
planned for it by the late Mr. K. C. D. Perera of Kandy whose untimely
death prevented those plans from being fulfilled. The new edition is
published by The Acting Government Printer, Colombo, Sir Lanka. It
contains 7 pages of introduction, 283 pages of text, and 7 plates,
and is paper bound in large format, 9-3/4 x 12 inches. It covers
authoritatively the ancient, medieval, and modern coins, both indig-
enous and imported, as well as the Dutch and British currency notes
used on the island.
A number of books of interest to numismatists on the history of the
sub-continent has also been published. These include:
Bactria , from the earliest times to the extinction of Bactrio-Greek
rule in the Punjab, by Hugh G. Rawlinson. Published by the Bharatiya
Publishing House, Delhi. It bears the caption title: The Bactrian
53
Empire wider the Greek dynasties, and contains 12 pages of introduction,
150 pages of text, and a bibliography. The price is Rs . 40 ($8.00).
India as described by Megasthenes, by Narain Singh Kalota. Published
by the Concept Press, Delhi, for Rs . 35 ($7.00). It has 12 pages,
illustrations, maps and bibliography.
Medieval routes to India: Baghdad to Delhi; a study of trade and mili-
tary routes, by Harish Chandra Verma. Published by Naya Prokash,
Calcutta. It has a 13 page introduction, 345 pages of text , maps,
bibliography and index. It sells for Rs . 54 ($13.00).
(The prices mentioned above are the publishers' sale prices in India
and do not include shipping. These books are not available from NI
or the author of this note. A list of the U.S. university libraries
to which these books have been supplied is available from this writer;
please provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Address to:
David G. Briggs, Treehouse Farm, Winona Road, Meredith, N.H. 03253.)
*- v*** ***************************************************** ************
JUSTIN II & SOPHIA 565-578 A.D .
by I. C. G. Campbell, Weeping Water, Nebraska, NI #LM12
These two are always bracketed together, mainly because Justin's best
known and most common coin design always shows them sitting side by
side, so that it is one of the copper coins that may most easily be
distinguished, however worn.
Sophia was the niece of the Empress Theodora, and Justin's wife, who
helped him in his accession to the throne on the death of Justinian I.
While she was empress she relieved many poor citizens from debt and
usury. On Justin's death she hoped to retain her power by marrying
Tiberius, but he declared his lawful wife, Anastasia as empress. He
treated Sophia as his mother and gave her imperial honors, but she
intrigued - in true Byzantine fashion - with Justinian, the son of
Germanus. He was pardoned but she was confined and given only a mod-
est allowance. Her son died in infancy, her daughter Arabia married
Baduarius, perhaps the ancestor of the famous Venetian family "Casa
Badoero" .
The coin shown above is a 40 nummia piece, minted in Cyzicus in the
second (B) workshop and in the third year of the reign of Justin II.
The couple are shown seated on one of Byzantium's famous thrones.
54
THE ANNUAL BULLETINS OF THE TURKISH NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
by I. C. G. Campbell , Weeping Water , Nebraska, NI #LM- 1 2
(All illustrations approximately 3/4 actual size)
These publications of the Turk Numismatik Dernegi Yahxnlarl are a must
for any serious student of Ottoman numismatics. I have before me No.
1, 1972, No. 2, 1977 plus Supplement No. 3, 1978. They are printed on
heavy clay paper, in large clear type and the illustrations are first
class .
In order to show the quality of the work, I show some drawings from
No. 3:
The piece above is a silver 80 Para (ikilik-two) piece of Selim III.
It weighs (average) 25 grams and has a diameter of 41-44mm. The ob-
verse shows the Sultan's Tugra. The reverse legend has the regnal
year 6 at top and "struck in islambol (Constantinople) year 1203 A.H.
This piece is a 60 Para (^ifte zolta) is 40-43mm average diameter and
weighs an average of 18.73 grams. The obverse reads:
Sultan
Selim ibn Mustafa han
Dame miilkehu, duru be fi
islambol
1203
The reverse reads: Sultan-iil berreyn
ve hakan-iil bahreyn
Es-sultan ibn (2)
es-sultan
55
Below are three pieces (drawings) of 3 out of 4 Mangirs (copper pieces)
found in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. As most collectors of
Ottoman coins know, these coins were usually poorly struck and in-
variably badly worn because of much use. The early ones are also noted
for their complex and lovely designs, in keeping with the calligraphic
traditions of Islam and Islamic countries.
No. 2 above was struck in 907 A.H. (Azze nasara) . Its reverse shows 2
tulips and a cypress tree. The symbol on the stem is often found on
the dome of a mosque, or atop a standard.
No. 3 was struck in Mosul (Musul) . The reverse is just a design.
No. 4 was struck at Ruha and the reverse also is just a design.
The society's annual subscription is 10 dollars. On account of the
Turkish laws which govern any society or organization in Turkey, it
is necessary to provide two passport photos and certain personal de-
tails such as date of birth, passport number and so on. Apart from
the annual journal, the society provides at cost plus postage to its
members any new coins or medals minted by the Turkish mint, or by
itself. Apart from the savings financially, this is often the only
way in which these objects are obtainable because of very limited
issues. Earlier issues have very high asking prices indeed. It was
organized in 1968.
The publication is in English (one number has an article in French)
and most of the short articles deal with individual coins (or small
groups, i.e. 4 or 5). There are quite a number that deal with mangir.
The supplement has pages of words written in Ottoman script. To
56
non-Turkish scholars, the list of mints (mint names) as written in
Ottoman Turkish is very useful as the script is large and clear.
A second list has the individual sultan's names, while a third bears
their usual titles found on the coins. There is a list of sultans
with the Islamic dates of accession and the corresponding AD years.
********************************************************************
NEW VARIETY OF SUDANESE MINOR COINS
by Dccnnie J. Williams, North Little Rock, Arkansas, NI #1425
(Reprinted from ARKOIN NEWS (Arkansas Numismatic Society Quarterly
Magazine), July 1979, Vol. Ill, No. 2, p.9, with permission of editor.)
The minor bronze coins of Sudan caught my eye recently. They are the
circulation strikes of 5 milliemes Y-C43 dated 1971-1391 and 10 milliemes
Y-D43 dated 1970-1390. The Y-D43 (1970-1390) is unlisted in Standard
Catalog of World Coins as a circulation type.
The legend on the reverse of the coins is "Democratic Republic of the
Sudan" in Arabic text. The illustrations of the legends on the reverses
of these two coins are from proof types in the SCWC , which are similar
to those on the Y-43 and Y-44 Revolution Commemoratives . The legends
on the circulation coins are similar to those of Y-48, 50 and 58 and of
Y-51, 51a, 59 and 63 respectively.
(Continued on page 64 )
57
BOOK REVIEWS
OUT-OF-PRINT WORKS
There is very good news for serious collectors and students of numis-
matics. The British Museum, in conjunction with an Oxford firm, has
put two major, out-of-print, publications on microfilm. The 29 volume
catalog of Greek coins makes 149 microfiches and costs $500.00 US.
Three or four years ago we paid a bargain price of $800.00 for re-
prints of the same set (and many volumes were poorly bound) .
The 10 volume catalog of the oriental coins in the B.M. makes 44 micro-
fiches and costs $250.00. Both sets have a 32 page introductory book-
let. Mini copy viewers in Great Britain sell for around $150.00.
Microfilming is one of the very few ways of making it possible for
scholars to carry on research, as printing costs have become so enormous
they promise the demise of conventional academic information publi-
cation. It will also make available rare research material which can
never hope to be reprinted.
It is also going to stress the value of collector clubs and societies
which, working together, can purchase such sets which are quite beyond
the purse of many members.
This also opens an entirely new era, not only for numismatics but also
for other subjects. It is, as yet, impossible to foresee or foretell
the long term consequences.
Submitted by I. C. G. Campbell
COLLECTION OF NOTES ISSUED IN THE PERIOD OF FIFTY YEARS OF THE IMPERIAL
PAHLAVI DYNASTY. Text entirely in Farsi (Persian). Farsi title:
MAJMU'E-E ASKENAS-HA-I MONT ASHER SHODE DAR DOURAN-E PAN J AH SAL-E
SHAHANSHAH I DUDtdAN-E PAHLAVI. Printed and published by the Central
Bank of Iran in summer, 1976; 30,000 copies printed. No price is indi-
cated. 55 pages, of which 47 contain full color reproductions of all
notes (front and back) issued between 1932 and 1976, totaling 94 notes.
Paper cover, format 33 cm x 22.8 cm. Translations by John G. Humphris.
This is a very beautiful book, and invaluable because of its illustra-
tions in color of all Iranian bank notes issued 1932-1976. The Farsi
text with each note describes the scenes on each note, both front and
back, and the dates between which they were issued. This information
is also important because many of the notes are not dated. The book
is divided into two parts: 1) notes issued by the National Bank of
Iran ("Bank Melli Iran" text which appears on notes issued 1948 through
1961), and 2) notes issued by the Central Bank of Iran ('Bank Markazi
Iran" text which appears on notes issued from 1961 to the present) .
The book ends with the commemorative note issued in 1976 which cele-
brates the 50th anniversay of the foundation of the Pahlavi dynasty
(100 rials). The book itself was issued to commemorate this event.
The notes are arranged in series of denominations which were issued at
58
the same time, starting with the notes printed by the American Bank
Note Company of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rials which were issued
in 1932 (Pick 18-23). The illustrations in the book are not dated
because the dates on these notes were printed on the day that they
were issued, and all notes which are illustrated in this book are
"-specimen" notes supplied by the printers of the notes.
Reviewed by John G. Humphris
(Ed. : This beautiful book was recently donated to the NI Library
by Robert L. Clarke. A detailed description, written by John G.
Humphris, of the series of notes appears in other pages of this issue
of the NI BULLETIN. )
ISLENZKAR MYNTIRj by Finnur Kolbeinsson. 1980 Edition. 60pp, illus.
5" x 8", glossy paper, stiff grey paper cover. Icelandic text. $6.00
US airmail postpaid from the publisher: Atom, P. 0. Box 123, Reykjavik,
Iceland .
This latest edition, released early in November 1979, is the recognized
standard catalogue for the valuation of the coins, tokens, medals and
banknotes of Iceland, having been issued yearly since 1969.
The country's coinage, first issued in 1922, is catalogued by date and
mintmark in 4 conditions from fine through uncirculated. A clear
photograph of both sides of each type coin is given as well as the
metal, weight, size in mm, and the mint that struck the coin. Die
varieties are listed and many are illustrated either by sketches or
enlarged photographs. A number of the coins issued between 1922 and
1940 are virtually unknown in uncirculated condition. Valuations for
some coins and notes, especially in the top grades, have been increased
in the 1980 catalogue.
Eight pages are devoted to the country's tokens, the first of which
was issued in 1846. The size in mm, the metal, and a photograph of
both sides are given for each token, as well as a single valuation.
Three pages are devoted to medals.
The last half of the catalogue is devoted to the country's banknotes
commencing with their first banknote issued in 1777. A photograph of
the obverse side of each type banknote is given as well as the size in
cm, the color and two valuations.
A four page illustrated section on trade notes issued by stores and
other private persons or firms has been added to the 1980 edition.
Recent uncirculated sets of Iceland's coins, as well as current bank-
notes in uncirculated, are available from Atom.
Reviewed by Jerome H. Remick
The Mardin Hoard. Islamic Countermarks on Byzantine Coins 3 by N. M.
59
Lowick, S. Bendall and P. D. Whiting. 79pp, illus., soft cover. Pub-
lished by A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. 1977.
1 was prompted to submit this review by I. C. G. Campbell’s "Byzantine
Coin Notes1' (/VT BULLETIN, Dec. 1970, p436). He commented in his note
"as far as I know, there is no authoritative work on them, as yet".
In addition to R. J. Hebert's "Concerning tenth to twelfth century
Byzantine folles with Islamic and other countermarks". The Numismatic
Circular 82, 1974, pp94 ,140-1,189-90 and Weller's "Turkic countermarks"
ibid. 83, 1975, p475, the latest and most authoritative study is Lowick
Bendall and Whiting's booklet The Mardin Hoard, dealing with a group of
some 13,500 copper pieces of which roughly 2,200 were countermarked .
Although neither the provenance nor the date of finding the hoard is
known with certainty, internal evidence suggests Mardin, a town about
50 miles south of Diyar Bakr, in south-east Anatolia.
The booklet is in three parts. Part I - The "Mardin" Hoard (pp8-17),
which includes 1-Recent discoveries of countermarked pieces; 2-Publi-
cations; 3-Collections and groups of countermarked pieces; 4-Islamic
countermarks and the "Mardin" hoard; 5-Details of the hoard; 6-Some
problems. Part II - The Coins (ppl8-29) including 1-The Pre-Anonymous
coins; 2-The Anonymous Folles and other Imperial Issues; 3-The Islamic
coins. Part III - The Countermarks (pp30-55) including Islamic counter
marking, notes on each of the 28 countermarks individually, allocation
of countermarks to dynasties and mints, limitations of area and time-
span, and reasons, religious and economic, for the practice.
There are eight tables:
A - Concordance of countermark classifications (plO).
B - Imperial and Anonymous types found in the Hoard (pl5).
C - Islamic countermarks (p30).
D - Diagram showing overstriking of countermarks and ke to
diagram (p49).
E - "Mardin" Hoard — Coins with one countermark (pp72-73).
F - "Mardin" Hoard — Coins with two countermarks (pp74-76).
G - "Mardin" Hoard — Coins with three countermarks (pp77-78).
H - "Mardin" Hoard — Coins with four and five countermarks (p 79 ) .
A map of Anatolia in the twelfth century showing the principal mints
appears on page 2.
There are eight plates which are a joy to behold in terms of their
readability. This well-planned, executed and published work is a
model of its kind, and should be the standard reference for this inter-
esting numismatic series. The book belongs in the library of both the
student and the professional. We may be grateful to the authors for
having added another important book to the useful works they have al-
ready published.
Reviewed by Raymond J. Hebert
CHARLTON COIN GUIDE , 20th Ed. (1980), by J. E. Charlton. 160pp, illus.
pocket book format. Available from the publishers: Charlton Inter-
national Publishing, Inc., 299 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5V 1Z9. $1.50 plus .50c postage.
60
This latest edition of Charlton's Guide , first ever in pocket book for-
mat, provides a listing of current market prices for specimens in very
good condition for: Canadian, Newfoundland and Maritime coinage, paper
money and tokens; United States coinage and British copper and bronze
coinage. Every major issue of coinage is prefaced by a brief, factual
description and photographs. Photos of important die varieties of
Canadian coins are included, and the coin is valued.
A six page introductory section on mint marks and designers' initials,
handling and care of coins, grading and other subjects has been revised
and enlarged for this edition.
A two page table listing the bullion value of Canadian silver coins by
denomination is given at the end of the book. Values are given for
each denomination of silver coin for silver bullion prices from $7.50
to $20.00 Canadian per troy ounce at .50c increments. The bullion
value of silver is the most important factor today in determing the
market value of a great many Canadian silver coins in the lowest grades.
Reviewed by Jerome H. Remick.
OTTOMAN PAPER MONEY AND IMPERIAL OTTOMAN BANKNOTES TRANSFERRED from
OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO TURKISH REPUBLIC , by Nezihi Aykut. 3 3PP, + 5pp of
English text. 9 plates illustrating photos of 35 notes. 6-1/21' x
9-1/2", stiff paper covers. (No. 10. Numismatik Yayinlari) . Istan-
bul 1979. $10.00 postpaid. Available from: Numismata Orientalia,
P. 0. Box 212, Tenafly , N.J. 07670.
This useful booklet addressed to Turkish collectors has just been re-
leased by Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi (Istanbul). It deals with the seven
orders for paper money (kaime) and banknotes (bank kaime) issued under
the laws promulgated from March 30, 1331 (1915) to March 28, 1334 (1918).
Facts are given about the amount of kaime issued in the war time amount-
ing to over 160 million liras, of which the Ottoman government paid only
two and half million liras, the balance being left to the Republic.
The catalogue gives transliterations of the Ottoman Turkish script fac-
ilitating the reference to a modern Turkish dictionary by the specialist
collector.
The illustrations are reduced in size and include an elusive specimen
of the 1/2 liralik (being the one lira note, cut in half). They are
all from the collection of Mr. Diler and slides provided by Mr. Garo
Kurkman .
Reviewed by Kenneth M. Mackenzie
COINS OF THE SULTANS OF GUJARAT } by C. R. Singhal. 1979 Reprint by
Obol of the 1935 original. $40.00. Hardback, 154pp and 12pls.
This is Obol's first reprint of an Indian coin catalog and will be
welcomed by Islamic scholars. The reprint is excellent while the
61
(3/4
actual
size)
1 1
Copper Coin No. 771
Ahmad Shah III
D64 A.H. (S. .6'')
Rev: Date
Silver Coins No. S17
Uuzafl'ar Shah III
991 A.H. (S. .85")
M. Ahmedxibad
Obv: Kalimah. Rev: Date
i
coins illustrated show details to perfection. The original work was
by C. R. Singhal, a great scholar, and was based on a hoard found in
1923 (100 unknown specimens alone). It included the private collections
of D. G. P. Taylor (who made the primary study of Gujarat coins) and of
Dr. Hodivalas. Included in the catalog are missing types, from public
and private collections in and out of India, so the work is very repre-
sentative. There are 889 coins of the museum, plus others and with 150
illustrated. There are an index of mints, of legends, a bibliography
and a Hegira table of the Sultanate period.
Reviewed by 1. G. G. Campbell
THE ELECTED!) ADD SIL'vER COINS OF CHIOS , by Agnes Baldwin. 1979 Obol
reprint of the 1915 edition, long out of print. Hardbackea, quality
paper, 60pp of text, 8 (double) pis. $20.00.
This Obol work is a perfect work, a boon to scholars and museums. It
is a chronological study and, though the coinage was not abundant as
those of other Ionian mints, it is interesting and important.
Chios, an island off the Turkish coast has a coinage of value to stud-
ents of classical coinage. The standard obverse design was a sphinx
facing right or left, in common with all archaic coins, the reverse
is an incuse square. Subsequently this latter develops into two bars
at right angles with a transverse legend. The value is due to the ar-
rangement in order of development, from late archaic (c. 550 B.C.) to
around 300 B.C. Though incomplete, this shows a steady progress of
design from crude to a more perfect style.
Reviewed by I. C. G. Campbell
THE BEGINNING OF COINAGE AT ATHENS (Les Origines de la. Monnaie d.
Athens), by Ernest Babelon. Obol reprint, 1979 of the 1905 edition.
Hardback, 92pp, illus. $20.00.
This is another French reprint of Obol. Though the text is very
straight forward, a knowledge of the language is essential. However,
the details of the individual coins illustrated can be easily read by
anyone with a small dictionary. The book has long been out of print.
With the wealth of coinage in the trade, it is good to see it back
but there may be a number of types not considered.
f>2
As the most prolific coinage of antiquity, and starting with a very
archaic type for the head of Athenae, thses may be arranged in a more
complete order than those of Chios. To scholars this has a double
purpose, the development of coinage in antiquity, but even more import-
ant, the development of Greek art and the most beautiful coinage the
world has known.
Aside from the language difficulty, there are relatively few illus-
trations, unlike the Chios book. It is basically a discussion for
scholars rather than collectors.
Reviewed by I. C. G. Campbell
SYLLOGE NiMiORUM GRAECORUM (Catalog of Greek Coins). Vol. II of the
Lloyd Collection (11-1/2" x 15-1/2"). Hardback. 1,687 coins described
in detail and the illustrations (59 plates) opposite the text. $95.00.
This Obol reprint is an exact copy of the London edition (1933/37).
It deals specifically with the Greek coinage of Italy and Sicily. At
that time it was the most complete collection in private hands, includ-
ing many (then) recent finds. It is a superb folio volume of value to
scholars, museums and collectors. As yet Vol. I has not been reprinted.
Of all the coinage of the ancient world, probably none reached the
zenith of the coins of Sicily. These culminated in the decadrachm of
EUAINETOS, signed and unsigned. The collection was built up in the
13 years following World War I when many famous collections came on
the market. The coins are the pick of the sales rooms and other sources,
by a family which did not have to worry about cost. Some came from
hoards, but many of the specimens have a long pedigree, Ratto, Forrer,
Ginori, de Jongh, to name a few. In all probability no such private
collection as this could ever again be put together.
Reviewed by I. C. G. Campbell
(Ed.: The last four volumes reviewed by Rev. Campbell are available
from Obol International, 8 South Michigan Ave. , Chicago, 111.)
NOTGELD NEWSLETTER NO. 12, by Dwight Musser. 6pp, not illus., printed
on 8-1/2" x 11" bond. $1.25 postpaid. Available from the author at
Box 305, Ridge Manor, FL 33525.
This latest edition of Dwight Musser' s notgeld publication features a
4-page translation of a German language contemporary publicity piece
issued in conjunction with the Reutergeld of Mecklenburg. The trans-
lation was done by NI member David Block. The piece gives information
about the selection committee, the artists who designed the notes and
some remarks about the towns and the designs on the notes.
Also covered is information on some new publications on notgeld, plus
data on an 8-page errata issued by the German Firm Battenberg Verlag,
publishers of notgeld catalogs, to the Serienscheine catalog.
63
MEMBER NOTICE PAGE
Frederick R. Wolfe, P. 0, Box 1958, Huntington, W. Va. 25720: I need
two 100 franc pure nickel coins for Gabon dated 1975 referenced as Y2
in Krause's Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1980 Edition, page 537.
Call collect (304) 696-6226.
W. A. Haskell, Mohrengasse 11, 7501 Karxzell/Pf af fenrot , Germany :
Does any member know of a Greek catalog on paper noney by a A. Tarass-
ouleas? I would like to know where the catalog can be obtained and if
not currently available, where I might be able to borrow a copy.
George T. Ryden, Sox 4428, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15205: WANTED: German
and Japanese porcelain coins; American and European encased postage.
Please send lists or correspondence.
Gary G. Ascher, P. 0. Box 668, Owatonna, MN 55060: Please help me
add to my collection of tokens used by armies, navies and air forces
world-wide. Buying all types of military tokens or will try to come
up with a trade.
Marlin Etzel, P. 0. Box 601, Sgt. Bluff, Iowa 51054: WANTED - world
counterfeit coins in fine or better condition (no George II Great
Britain wanted though). I'll send 20 different genuine world coins
in exchange.
H. Wurm, Postfach 6488, D775 Konstanz, GERMANY: Want to buy French
material since 1789. Dealer offers welcome too.
Ingeborg Hoffman, 84 .Baring Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, P031 8DW ,
England : WANTED - Finland Y34a, 1918, VF or better; France Y12, 1852,
EF-UNC, Y24 1853-64, EF-UNC, Y82 1931-41, BU, Y84 1933-35, BU, YV97
1941, VF-UNC, Fujairah 5 Riyals 1969, Olympics 1969, BU or Proof.
Editor, NI BULLETIN : WANTED — contributors to this page! ! ! No ex-
perience necessary. Good opportunity for advancement of your numis-
matic knowledge or adding to your collection. No fee charged. Apply
by mail to Marvin L. Fraley, 2831 - 57th St., Lubbock, TX 79413, USA.
(No FOR SALE notices, please.)
kkkk k ******** k kkkkk k ******************* k ***************************** ’k
NEW VARIETY OF SUDANESE MINOR COINS (Continued from page 57 ) :
Therefore, the new varieties on the legends of the circulation type
coins should be listed (and illustrated) in the SCWC. I believe that
some circulation coins, in some other denominations, may be lying
waiting to be found.
**********************************************************************
NEED RECRUITING MATERIALS?
NI is always seeking new members and the best way to obtain them is
through recruiting from our present members. Write to Dallas for
application blanks and other materials to use for this purpose.
64
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